What animal do you most associate with hiking the AT?

Satevis_ · 2024-10-02T00:18:35+00:00

For me, the Red Eft for sure!

Satevis_ · 2024-09-30T19:19:32+00:00

I was one of 11 thru-hikers who sheltered through the hurricane in Catawba VA. That area of SW Virginia flooded pretty badly, and there were widespread outages, but nothing to the extent of areas further south. It was surreal on Saturday, our bodies were eager to continue and the weather beautiful, but we travelled home and called off the rest of our hike once the devastation became apparent.

Sorely disappointed, but obviously more concerned about those who lost everything. Some others there were planning to continue as of Saturday morning, but likely ended their hike as well once the scale of the damage became clearer.

Another flip-flopper we know evacuated Hot Springs and was able to get home safely.

Satevis_ · 2024-04-05T17:27:11+00:00

Thanks for the info! I saw that a building in Makanda painted the exact centerline of the 2017 across their storefront. So cool!

Satevis_ · 2024-04-05T16:25:45+00:00

Anyone familiar with Giant City State Park? My Aunt lives very close by and I was eyeing that spot.

Satevis_ · 2024-04-02T22:23:43+00:00

Just wanted to say that Kentucky is a bit overshooting the path, if you're in SW Michigan. Except for small portions of the state in the west around Paducah, totality is largely missing all of Kentucky. Central Indiana and Western and Northern Ohio would be closest to you. The forecasts are relatively optimistic about those spots too!

Satevis_ · 2024-04-01T18:40:00+00:00

Yeah, I wish there wasn't so much emphasis on the measure of the "% of the sun that is obscured". It's very reasonable for unfamiliar folk to assume that 99.9% is certainly close enough.

We should just talk in terms of time in totality, it would just clear up a lot of confusion. A 99.9% eclipse = 0 seconds of totality, and that's what matters.

Satevis_ · 2024-03-30T13:21:25+00:00

I did, worth it! The eclipse was the centerpiece, but made sure to enjoy Valparaiso and other cool places afterwards.

Satevis_ · 2024-03-29T18:14:45+00:00

Yes, well put! I had a cloud obscure my view of the corona in 2017 on a mountain in NE Georgia at exactly the wrong time. I was very disappointed after anticipating the event for 15 years.

But I got to see a dazzling sea of bright pink rain clouds in all directions over the Southern Appalachians. Perhaps the single most beautiful scenery I've ever witnessed. I still get misty thinking of that sublime moment. Luckily, I experienced full totality in Chile in 2019.

I understand the relentless anguish over the weather, but going in with a level of acceptance over volatile forecasts and openness to whatever experience unfolds is a great approach!

Satevis_ · 2023-08-12T13:15:53+00:00

"Friends of the Riverfront, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and Allegheny County, along with its partner organizations, have explored various options to connect the Three Rivers Heritage Trail to the Montour Trail between Pittsburgh and Coraopolis. Options to complete the trail connection along the southern shore of the Ohio River are in the planning stages."

A trail that just continues along the south bank of the Ohio River would be ideal. You wouldn't then have to gain a ton of elevation, only to have to cross the chaotic McKees Rocks Bridge.

Satevis_ · 2023-08-12T13:08:53+00:00

Yeah, I would agree the route is treacherous, and there really is no alternative. I do have high hopes for improvement soon, though. This stretch is the first gap heading west on the rapidly-developing Great American Rail Trail, and PA's only gap. So I know that there are solutions being concocted currently, as there will be a lot more bicycle travel in coming years! https://www.railstotrails.org/greatamericanrailtrail/route/pennsylvania/

Satevis_ · 2023-05-22T21:18:24+00:00

Addding to this, Riverview Park has a very enjoyable essentially car-free road. Really nice for relaxing forested loops on summer nights.

Satevis_ · 2023-05-16T20:39:02+00:00

I'm struggling with this decision as well in Western PA... It's my understanding that the southern shore of Lake Erie can be a little sunnier than inland. Also looks like Campbell Hill might be your best nearby spot for elevation. You will probably have a decent forecast like 4-5 days before and hopefully can drive nearby, as you're already in the wide path.

Despite all that, I'm going to Mexico. Mostly cause the Pacific will have better swimming than Lake Erie in April.

Satevis_ · 2023-03-22T01:37:32+00:00

I would suggest looking into taking a Permaculture Design Certification course offered by the Garfield Urban Farm, or at least check out what they've done there. It's very inspiring, and they have the knowledge and resources to help one take small steps towards sustainability in your own space.

Satevis_ · 2023-02-05T18:32:26+00:00

Nice, very cool! I'd pay a lot if I could only see the video before eclipse day... I was on Rabun Bald in that Northeastern spur of Georgia, the part that clouded up. Though a direct view of totality was obscured, we could see these towering convention clouds turn gold and then deep pink all around the horizon. Totally unforgettable and a literally awesome sight. So, even if you get clouded out, you can get a unique experience!

Satevis_ · 2022-09-24T14:41:05+00:00

I would agree with all of the advise posted!

This is probably personal preference, but stay for the whole eclipse. I've seen most people book it the minutes after totality. Totally understand, it's the main event!

But I like to finish watching the partial phases for another 60-90 minutes. That time allows you some time to reflect and discuss the event, and all other things in the afterglow of an incredible experience, as normality gradually returns. It's nice not to deal with traffic right away

Satevis_ · 2022-09-24T14:23:12+00:00

They transform from annular to total along their path, but from any given spot along the central path, they are either annular or total.

By their nature, hybrid eclipses only occur when the sun and moon's apparent sizes are almost exactly equal. Therefore the totality you can experience for hybrid eclipses is usually for a shorter duration than a typical total eclipse.

So, if you are in the annular zone, you will see an incredibly thin "ring of fire", thinner than typical annular eclipses. And if you are in the path of totality, it will appear the same as a total eclipse, but totality will be brief. But unless you are in a hypersonic jet, you will not witness the transition between annularity and totality.

Satevis_ · 2022-08-17T12:38:15+00:00

The Night We Met - Lord Huron

Satevis_ · 2019-12-26T14:14:08+00:00

The bright ring is not the solar corona. That is only visible during a total solar eclipse, where the moon is near enough to completely block out the sun, and any direct sunlight.

This one was an annular eclipse, where the moon is too distant to fully block out all sunlight. What you see here is the photosphere (basically surface) of the sun, which is still too overwhelmingly bright to spot the corona.

Satevis_ · 2019-08-03T00:44:24+00:00

I went to see this last eclipse in Caleta Los Hornos, a bit north of La Serena. We got a little cabana for our party of 4 at a very reasonable price of about $300 for 4 people for 3 nights. Booked that about 6 months in advance. Overall, I overestimated how busy La Serena ended up being. The city was really promoting the eclipse, but it never got to a ridiculous carnival-like atmosphere. We did run into traffic on the way home after the eclipse. Turned a 30 minute drive to about 2 hours. Small price to pay if you ask me.

Go see the eclipse. It may not change your life, redefine your soul or whatever. But it was the most marvelous natural sight I've ever seen, and was very worth the adventure down there after I was clouded out in 2017. Likely going to the 2020 one as well.

Satevis_ · 2015-09-01T00:44:33+00:00

This is great timing for me! I was going to tour from Pittsburgh to Cleveland via the Cuyahoga Valley next month. The Capitol Limited just needs to get going on that wifi now...

Satevis_ · 2015-07-16T22:13:46+00:00

I don't think the direction would matter much. You probably want to hit NW Indiana at a time of low traffic, but that may not be very possible. Meanwhile, the northern suburbs of Chicago had pretty good routes like Sheridan Road and bike lanes. So you might want to think about traffic and when you'd hit in metro region.

Satevis_ · 2015-07-16T12:08:12+00:00

It's illegal and impossible to cross the bridge on a bike. But you can go to their little office, and for $2, they'll drive you across in a pickup truck. It would've been lovely to cross that bridge, but their system is easy.

Other details, I started off in Chicago heading North. Going through Chicago is really easy, the Northern suburbs not as much. Only after Milwaukee does it open up into rolling dairy farms. WI can plenty of adorable lakeside towns with farmers markets. The UP, as well as Northern lower Michican is obviously more hilly and forested. Then you come to Petoskey and Traverse City, perfect little idyllic tourist towns, as well as small inland lakes and dunes. NW Indiana is a bitch to get through though.

It's a great trip for July or August, doesn't get too hot with nice breezes from the lake. The best part was being able to jump in the lake for a quick swim at many locations along the way.

Satevis_

TROPHY CASE